Hi All – Please join CFOW tomorrow in Hastings, where we will hold a rally in support of the re-election of Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Our rally starts at noon at the VFW Plaza (Warburton Ave. and Spring St.). The rally will be short, given the heat. Speaking at our rally will be Hastings mayor Nikki Armacost, Luke Hayes from Jamaal's office, and some people from the newly formed "Jews for Jamaal." Richie Schlossberg will speak on behalf of CFOW. And Steve Siegelbaum of the Walkabout chorus will give us some music.
CFOW's support for Jamaal Bowman goes back several years, to the time when he challenged incumbent Eliot Engel in the 2020 Democratic primary. We had several meetings with Jamaal during this time; we liked him and decided to endorse him, the first ever CFOW endorsement for any politician. Not least, our endorsement was based on our strong disagreement with Rep. Engel's pro-war, pro-military, and pro-Israel politics. But we also liked Jamaal as a person, and believed that he would be a strong advocate for peace and justice, and for the needs of the people in his congressional district. And we were right; and continue to be right in supporting him for re-election.
Many things – not least the messed-up redistricting process – have made this a difficult primary election for Bowman – and for us. Redistricting has eliminated one-third of the African-American voters who were in his old district and are not now in his new district. Additionally, by rescheduling the primary for Congress for August 23rd – separating it from the primaries held on the original date of June 28th – many Democratic voters are not aware that there is an August primary, and a great many in Bowman's expanded district – now including Dobbs, Irvington, parts of Tarrytown, etc. – are not aware that he is now/to be "their Congressman." And of course it is not helpful to have a little-known primary election in August, while many voters are away on vacation, and during the hottest time of the year!
Thanks & best wishes,
Frank Brodhead
For CFOW
